The Role of Interaction: How Online News Consumption Generates Slackivists

• In Event: Online News and Information Consumption

Abstract

This article explores the relationship between online news usage patterns, types of online news services, interactions with other users, and civic engagement, employing use and gratification theory. The mediating power of interaction is then analyzed related to socially curated news consumption and civic engagement. Specifically, the civic engagements were measured with political knowledge, political participation, and endorsement of civic duty. An online survey was conducted among U.S. residents. The results were analyzed using a structural equation model (SEM). The data suggests that (1) people with social surveillance motivation prefer full coverage news consumption, while people with personal needs satisfaction motivation prefer socially curated news consumption; (2) full coverage news consumption increases the level of civic engagement; and (3) socially curated news consumption increases civic engagement when mediated by interaction. These results are discussed in relation to slacktivism.

Author

• Keonyoung Park, S.I.Newhouse School for Public Communication/Syracuse U